We achieved these higher rents after buying a fixer and completing a major remodel.

To quickly increase your score - get the lowest balance you can on all of your debts, especially your credit cards.

We also do our own property management.The previous home still has an open HELOC on the property with 0 balance as well, with a credit limit of $250KWe recently moved to a new home last month. 

How did you achieve that success? 

My first suggestion is to move ASAP so the balance doesn’t continue to increase.  

only take cash out if the property will still cashflow at the higher loan balance.

Most hard money will be interest only payments on the full approved balance of the loan whether or not if you have pull the draw funds for repairs.If you have any other questions, post them below so that we can all learn from the answers.

Every month, your cost of living will be lower, your debt on the property will be lower, the value of the property will be higher, and your balance sheet will be that much improved.In several years, you should have an asset on your hands worth considerably more than you paid for it.

I thought I'd become a licensed home inspector to achieve this. 

You have to figure out what you can afford and balance that with the time you have.